International relations--Moral and ethical aspects

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Hugo Munsterberg

Theodore Roosevelt regrets losing his German friends because of his opinion on the war and feels that his views, compared to Hugo Münsterberg’s, are “as far apart as the poles.” Roosevelt is an American and nothing else. He opposes “hyphenated Americanism.” He believes English should be the language of the United States but Americans must also remain distinct from the people of Europe. Citizens should be treated equally but also held to a high standard of citizenship. Roosevelt judges each nation by their conduct and that is why he is opposing Germany and Austria-Hungary. He admires German ideals but their conduct during the war has been deplorable. Roosevelt’s main concern is that the United States is prepared to do its duty and maintain the nation’s honor.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1916-01-19

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Albert Kuhn

Theodore Roosevelt defends the shipping of munitions to the allies as this is allowed by the Hague Conventions. This provision was demanded by Germany on behalf of the Krupp family. Roosevelt also defends Belgian neutrality and compares Belgium’s situation to the neutrality of Albert Kuhn’s native Switzerland. Kuhn’s duty is to be “American and nothing else.” He should be opposing Germany due to Germany’s warfare against the American people.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1916-01-05

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to French Ensor Chadwick

Theodore Roosevelt strongly disagrees with Admiral Chadwick’s opinion that the United States should be supporting Germany because of wrongs done to the country by the English and Dutch centuries ago. It is a “foolish doctrine” to do wrong in the present because of centuries-old events. Roosevelt defends his policies towards Morocco during his presidency. He states that any comparison between the Moroccan situation and Belgium is “unspeakably silly” as Belgium was able to keep internal order and did not antagonize Germany.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1915-12-31

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Ernest Hamlin Abbott

Theodore Roosevelt defends his statements in favor of foreign policy action against criticism from an Outlook correspondent.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1915-12-21

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Gertrude Battles Lane

Theodore Roosevelt gives permission for his letter to Mrs. Wilkinson to be published. Roosevelt adds a statement in support of military readiness and against pacifism.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1915-12-06

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Edmund von Mach

Theodore Roosevelt did not respond to Edmund von Mach’s previous letter as he did not want to say anything offensive. He has been informed that children are suffering across Europe, and if he were to take any action it would be for the benefit of “all the poor mothers and children.” Roosevelt will not advocate for the relaxing of the rules of war in favor of Germany as the Germans have taken advantage of these rules and continue to violate the accepted rules of war. Before the rules of war are relaxed, they must not be violated. Germany has killed thousands of mothers and children through submarine warfare and bombing campaigns. Germany also committed the initial wrong by invading Belgium and causing millions to suffer.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1916-04-05

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Samuel Train Dutton

Theodore Roosevelt told Judge Osborn that he felt great sympathy for the Armenians that are being persecuted in Turkey but he cannot speak to a mass meeting on the subject. Roosevelt thinks a meeting about Armenian atrocities should also address Belgian atrocities. However, there will be no results until the United States atones for the Americans lost on the Lusitania and murdered in Mexico. In a postscript, Roosevelt states that no protest will be effective until the country shows it has the strength and will to fulfill its promises.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1915-10-25

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Gershom Mott Williams

Theodore Roosevelt is unsure what he can do to help the Armenian people. The Germans will not influence Ottoman Turkey in favor of Armenia, as the Germans have too much contempt for the United States and have already disregarded international morality. Since there is no Turkish vote, the United States government could take action but Roosevelt doubts there would be any results. Roosevelt will call attention to Armenian suffering but the American public will need to change its opinion on international duty and affairs.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1915-10-20

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to John R. Parsons

Theodore Roosevelt has German ancestry and has no prejudice against Germany. However, he disagrees with John R. Parsons that the United States should stay neutral and that Americans should not take passage on the ships of belligerent nations. Parsons is willing to see Americans killed at sea and the Wilson administration is acquiescing to these murders. Roosevelt believes the United States should be standing up for international rights.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1915-09-03

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Baron Rosen

Theodore Roosevelt wishes he were president in order to intervene in Mexico and “interfere in the world war on the side of justice and honesty.” He does not believe in “neutrality between right and wrong.” Roosevelt sympathizes with the allies against Germany and would have taken action after the invasion of Belgium. However, he is currently a political outsider and is ashamed at the inaction of the United States and its leadership.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1915-08-07

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Edmund von Mach

Theodore Roosevelt was pleased to receive the book but was pained by Edmund von Mach’s inscription. Roosevelt has judged Germany by the facts surrounding the “subjugation of Belgium” and the killing of American citizens at sea. On these points there is no defense of German actions or of American inaction.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1915-08-06

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Frederick Scott Oliver

Theodore Roosevelt compliments Frederick Scott Oliver’s book, Alexander Hamilton. If the United States enters the war, Roosevelt hopes to raise a cavalry regiment similar to the Rough Riders and serve with his four sons. He argues that Great Britain would probably not have entered the war if Germany had respected Belgian neutrality and is distressed at his own country’s failures to defend international rights. Roosevelt has been annoyed at the activity of pacifists. English pacifists should be concerned about defeating Germany and American pacifists should be demanding that the United States follow through on the country’s international obligations. Pacifists are “playing Germany’s game” by demanding peace without regard to the terms of peace. Roosevelt believes a nation must be strong to preserve friendships and respect. He would like the United States and Great Britain to have a “peculiarly close degree of friendship.” Roosevelt is currently out of sympathy with the American public and commands little support.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1915-07-23

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to William Roscoe Thayer

Theodore Roosevelt provides several corrections to William Roscoe Thayer’s article, “John Hay and the Panama Republic.” Roosevelt denies conspiring with Philippe Bunau-Varilla and defends his actions as Colombia could not be treated as a “responsible power.” Had there not been a revolt, Roosevelt was prepared to seize the isthmus by force. However, he took advantage of the situation and stopped the “bandits” from holding up a great project.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1915-07-02

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to William Hutchinson Cowles

Theodore Roosevelt cannot approve of William Hutchinson Cowles’s editorial and opposes universal arbitration. Each nation and community has issues which they would refuse to arbitrate. The Wilson administration has signed thirty arbitration treaties and refused to abide by the treaty with Germany when the Lusitania was sunk. The public approved of President Wilson’s decision. Promises should not be made that the nation, its leaders, or the public do not intend to keep. The nations of Europe are fighting for their existence and will justifiably ignore calls for arbitration and pacifism from America. The United States needs to prepare for war and learn to keep promises.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1915-06-17

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Henry Cabot Lodge

If it was right to originally sign the international arbitration treaties, then it should now be right to grant Germany’s request to have a commission of inquiry regarding the sinking of the Lusitania. However, President Wilson has succeeded in stalling and the public has forgot. Years of peace propaganda have created an “attitude of sluggishness and timidity.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1915-06-15

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Medill McCormick

Theodore Roosevelt believes that political parties should have “large liberty in the different states for individual actions.” He would not be comfortable in the Republican Party of many states but in some states believes that progressives can work with Republicans. Roosevelt views President Wilson as a coward and thinks he is making the United States “appear contemptible.” However, most of the public is with Wilson and Roosevelt feels out of touch with the American people.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1915-06-10

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Albert Bushnell Hart

Theodore Roosevelt denounces President Wilson’s failure to act and does not believe Wilson is “carrying out a genuine American policy.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1915-06-01

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Franklin Bound Hall

Theodore Roosevelt comments on an editorial written by Kansas Governor Arthur Capper. He refutes Capper’s arguments against military readiness and recent American foreign policy.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1916-01-28

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to James Stevenson-Hamilton

Theodore Roosevelt responds to a letter from James Stevenson-Hamilton, noting that it came when he was discussing Stevenson-Hamilton’s book with Carl Ethan Akeley and Charles Sheldon. They all agree it “is one of the very best books” they know. Roosevelt does not believe that the United States ought to be pardoned for failing to defend Belgium against Germany. If he had been president, Roosevelt would have taken action regarding Belgium and believes the public would have supported war after the sinking of the Lusitania. His book, Fear God and Take Your Own Part, will soon be published and will cover his views on the war. The conduct of the Turks towards Armenians has been dreadful but, unlike the Germans, the Turks can behave “in civilized fashion in a war with the antagonists they respect.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1916-02-07

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Munroe Smith

Munroe Smith exactly stated the grounds on which Theodore Roosevelt would have based American actions in Cuba and would like to base action in Mexico. Roosevelt sent an American fleet to the Pacific with the understanding that this could lead to war with Japan. He did not believe there would be war, but instructed the fleet to operate as if it were at war and always be prepared for hostilities. Sending the fleet turned out to be the “greatest stroke for peace that could be struck.” If Japan had declared war, Roosevelt would have known that the Japanese had simply been waiting for an opportunity to strike.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1915-04-10